Farfetch takes start-up programme sustainable

Luxury etailer Farfetch has opened applications for the second year of its technology accelerator programme.

First launched in April 2018, Dream Assembly will this year focus on start-ups with a social or environmental focus.

Chief strategy officer at Farfetch, Stephanie Phair, said: “We’re looking to find for-profit companies with a mission around sustainability, or that promote social good and community values. It doesn’t have to be a business that has done this through fashion already, just one with an interest in technology that could have an application to the fashion industry.”

Sustainable luxury fashion brand Stella McCartney will join the programme as an industry partner, alongside Burberry, which continues it’s support from last year.

The 10-week programme will include workshops, one-to-one sessions with senior leaders from Farfetch and partners, and mentorship meetings on a number of topics including ecommerce, marketing, logistics and operations. At the end of the 10 weeks those selected for the course will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of external investors for funding.

Phair said: “Last year’s cohort truly valued the specific luxury industry knowledge that we exposed them to. We found that a lot of the start-ups we selected were focused on the circular economy and secondary market and that’s why we focused on sustainability this year.”

It has been a big year for José Neves and his luxury etailer, Farfetch. In August, 11 years after it was founded in 2007, the company floated on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $885m (£693) in an initial public offering of $20 (£15.67) a share.

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